Su Liuyue could easily tell what Shopkeeper Yuan was thinking. She gave a helpless smile and said: “I already said, I never thought those two pastries were bad. It’s just that, for a pastry shop, they aren’t outstanding enough. Shopkeeper Yuan has run this shop for many years, so he surely knows better than I do. In this vast capital, shops selling mung bean ice cakes and snowflake crisps are everywhere. These are traditional pastries—eight or nine out of ten pastry shops will have them, and there are countless chefs who make them well. The nobles of the capital—what delicacies haven’t they tasted? With better options available, why would they come specifically to *Manyifang*?”
Even from the original Su Liuyue’s memories, she recalled that at ordinary afternoon teas or banquets, these two pastries appeared far too often. She didn’t even need her past‑life knowledge to taste the difference. Simply put: no originality, and the flavor wasn’t as good as others’.
Shopkeeper Yuan muttered awkwardly. Of course, he knew this! But there had been no better choice.
Su Liuyue glanced toward the kitchen and said: “Still, these two pastries are passable. They’re decent enough to give as gifts. Don’t worry, I won’t take them for free—I’ll pay.”
Though her finances were tight, the original Su Liuyue still had a bit of private savings.
Shopkeeper Yuan waved his hands quickly: “Third Young Lady, what are you saying? These two boxes of pastries aren’t worth much! Are you planning to bring them to the Su family’s master and mistress?”
Bring them to those two? Never!
Su Liuyue barely restrained herself from rolling her eyes. “No. I’m going to visit my uncle and aunt at the Xue family.”
At those words, Shopkeeper Yuan was stunned.
Er’an was stunned too.
Heavens—had they heard correctly?! The Third Young Lady was going to the Xue family! To—the—Xue—family!
Even after leaving *Manyifang*, Ersi and Er’an still looked utterly incredulous. Ersi even tilted her head up at the sky, muttering blankly:
“Is our young lady truly going to the Xue family? The heavens haven’t rained red yet…”
It was no wonder the maids were so shocked. Ever since their young lady had grown old enough to understand things, she had despised the Xue family. Whenever members of the Xue family came to the Su residence to visit her, she treated them coldly, barely acknowledging them. As for going to the Xue household herself—never! For the past ten years, she hadn’t even set foot in the alley where the Xue family lived.
Su Liuyue shot the two girls an exasperated glare. “In the past, my brain was muddled like paste. Now, I can tell clearly who truly cares for me.”
Ersi and Er’an exchanged a look. Indeed! Ever since their mistress had survived her great ordeal, she seemed like a completely different person. Perhaps Heaven itself had opened its eyes and was guiding her from above.
The three of them casually hailed a carriage on the street and headed straight for the Xue residence.
In their haste to leave, they failed to notice three figures hidden in the alley opposite *Manyifang*, silently observing them.
“So this is what that remarkable young lady looks like.”
Leaning against the wall, Xiangbei rubbed his chin with interest and whispered: “Surprisingly, she looks quite good. I thought girls who went out wearing veils were either plain or hiding something shameful!”
In Great Yan, customs were open and free—women could even dine at the same table with men. Great Qing had inherited this atmosphere. Thus, most women in the capital walked the streets openly, rarely concealing their faces.
“Xiangbei, shut your mouth!” Fengyang scolded him coldly: “His Highness sent us here to observe. Was it to hear you comment on her looks?”
Xiangbei was lively by nature and often sent on missions outside, so he was not easily restrained. He chuckled, glancing at Fengyang: “Commander Feng, don’t be so serious. Besides, His Highness hasn’t said anything. Your Highness, am I wrong? That young lady just now—she looked decent, didn’t she?”
Fengyang: “…”
This rascal relied on his skill in lightness kung fu and wide connections in the martial world. No matter how he misbehaved, His Highness rarely punished him.
Across from them, the black‑clad man leaned against the wall with arms crossed. He turned his head, gave Xiangbei a half‑smile, and said lightly:
“Nothing special.”
Xiangbei’s eyes widened. “That’s still just ‘nothing special’? In the whole capital, that young lady we just saw would already count as top‑tier beauty! Your Highness, I’ve always thought you…” He paused, then slyly pointed at a plain‑looking woman passing by on the street. “Your Highness, what about this one?”
“Nothing special.”
Then he pointed at a delicate young maiden walking past. “And this one?”
“Nothing special.”
Finally, he pointed at an old woman who had stopped in front of *Manyifang*. “And this one?”
“Nothing special.”
At last, Xiangbei suddenly pointed at himself. “Then… then what about me?”
Zhou Yunkè lifted his phoenix‑shaped eyes, his expression for an instant carrying a hint of allure. He smiled lightly: “Excellent. As handsome as Pan An.”
Xiangbei: “…”
Ignoring Xiangbei, who seemed to freeze into stone on the spot, Zhou Yunkè straightened and said: “You two—find out everything about that young lady just now. Within one day, compile a dossier and present it to me. I want to see whether she truly has the ability, or is merely pretending at mystery.”
With that, he strode out of the alley.
Fengyang immediately responded: “Yes!”
He was just about to follow his master when his sleeve was suddenly tugged. Turning in confusion, he saw Xiangbei with a mournful face, speaking weakly: “It’s over, it’s over, Commander Feng. I’ve discovered His Highness’s secret. His Highness really doesn’t like women! And His Highness seems to secretly admire me! This can’t be! How could it be! I’m the sole heir of the Xiang family for nine generations—I bear the duty of continuing the family line! And besides… besides… I really don’t like men! Even if His Highness looks good… fine, very good… I just can’t accept it!”
“It’s over, it’s over, Commander Feng. Do you think His Highness looked at me like that because tonight he’ll make a move on me? My purity will be lost! Commander Feng, you must save me!”
Fengyang: “…”
He really didn’t want to admit that this fool was his colleague. Did this idiot have no self‑awareness? Even if His Highness truly did prefer men, he’d have to be blind to take a liking to *him*!
The layout of the new capital was divided into three rings: the outer city, the inner city, and the imperial city. The outer city was where ordinary commoners lived; the inner city housed officials and wealthy merchants; and the imperial city, as the name implied, was where the royal family lived and worked.
The Su family barely qualified to live in the inner city, and even then, only on its edge. The Xue family hadn’t managed to squeeze into the inner city at all—they lived in the outer city, in an alley called Tongxin Alley.
This was also why the original Su Liuyue had stubbornly refused to visit the Xue family.
Fortunately, *Manyifang* was located on Chang’an Street in the outer city, not far from Tongxin Alley. The carriage ride took less than fifteen minutes.
Tongxin Alley was mostly home to families of minor officials—those with positions in court, but not prominent ones. The Xue residence was at the very end of the alley.
Relying on the faint and blurry memories of the original Su Liuyue, she was lucky enough to find the place on her first try.
The Xue family’s gatekeeper was a short, elderly man. When Ersi reported their young lady’s identity, his jaw dropped in disbelief. After a long moment, he finally came to his senses, turned, and ran inside on his frail legs, stammering loudly: “Madam! Young Madam! It’s… it’s the Third Young Lady! The Third Young Lady from the Su household has come!”